Flash Atkins is a super hero who had his gravy days in the 80s saving the world with his ability to manipulate sound. Unfortunately he's fallen on hard times and can be spotted in the less salubrious parts of London, often stoned or drunk on borrowed money.
To make ends meet he uses his special powers to remix and make deep tech-soul tracks for Paper Recordings.

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

The Spandua Ballet classic Chant No. 1 (I Can’t Keep This Pressure On) has been given a disco re-rub by Flash Atkins as part of the Fags & Booze EP.It features Crazy P’s Danielle Moore doing her best Tony Hadley impression on vocals.

The EP is finally out and is a solid four track EP of leftfield house, disco and downbeat with warblers George Demure, Crazy P’s Danielle Moore and Beta Band cohort Sean Reveron. It is dedicated to his favourite things in life: the fags and the booze.

First up, Scotland’s finest baritone and lady’s man George Demure sings of his life as a gigolo over a thudding double bass driven thumper. It resonates with touches of wild pitch before descending in to some serious guitar disco action to wrap things up.

Next, everybody’s least favourite 80s Old Romantics Spandau Ballet get their only good song Chant Number 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) given the disco re-rub treatment with Crazy P’s Danielle Moore doing her best Tony Hadley impression. An analogue bass sits over shuffling dancefloor beats with plenty of electronic action before ending with some heavenly rhodes, strings, arpeggiator and pads.

The Flow takes things down a notch with a down tempo track that tips its hat to Kruder & Dorfmeister and Talk Talk. It features LA rapper Sean Reveron who has worked with David Holmes and The Beta Band in top rhyming form. There are sirens, strings, feedback, off kilter beats and a break in the middle that uses a kit sampled in the cellar of Hoxton boozer, William IV.

Finally there is a Wild Pitch dub of G.I.G.O.L.O that does what it says on the tin by keeping things simple but with some extra wild pitch ‘on the one’.

Harri: Loving the Al Naafiysh on mogadon feel of "The Flow" and the Wild Pitch dub. Well done Flash J

Pete Jay (Nish Nash Nosh) : WOOOOOOOAHHH!!! Best thing I've heard in ages, each one is a winner in so many ways. Gigolo is defo going on a new podcast mix this week and Danni sounds wicked on the Spandau cover...how has this not been done before??? The Flow is wonderfully put together.

Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) : Vocal not quite doing it for me but I like that groove. Wild Pitch Dub!

Mat Playford: Amazing e.p...all over it like cheap coat from T K Max!

Paul Hamill (Radio 1) : Excellent stuff, will squeeze one of these on the show.